Device for removing shoes

ABSTRACT

A device for removing shoes from a person&#39;&#39;s feet includes a baseboard having a pair of spaced blocks in which are U-shaped cutouts. Flexible T-shaped rubber strips are secured in the blocks for engaging heels of a person&#39;&#39;s shoes when they are inserted into the cutouts in the blocks. Instead of T-shaped strips, the heel grippers may have cooperating movable arms carried by elastic blocks on the baseboard.

0 1 v a United States ates 13,623,640

[72] Inventor Edward Zaleiski 346,682 8/1886 Quinlan 223/115 84-19 Penelope Ave., Middle V, N.Y. 662,440 1 1/1900 Jaeger 223/1 14 11379 2,725,167 11/1955 Bames..... 223/113 [21] Appl. No. 2,841 3,490,661 1/1970 Williams 223/114 [22] Filed Jan. 14, 1970 Pfima ry Examiner-Jordan Franklin [45] Patented 1971 Assistant Examiner-George H. Krizrnanick Attorney-Polachek & Saulsbury [54] DEVICE FOR REMOVING SHOES l claimgnmwmg Figs ABSTRACT: A device for removing shoes from a person's [52] U.S.Cl 223/114 feet includes a baseboard having a pair of spaced blocks in [51] Int. Cl A47j 51/02 which are U-shaped cutouts. Flexible T-shaped rubber strips [50] l-ieldolsearch ..223/113-118 are secured in the blocks for engaging heels of a persons shoes when they are inserted into the cutouts in the blocks. 1nl Refemm Cited stead of T-shaped strips, the heel grippers may have cooperat- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing movable arms carried by elastic blocks on the baseboard.

209,091 10/1878 Tyson 223/114 PATENTEnuuv 30 Ian 3, 23 640 sum 1 0F 2 This invention concerns devices from a person s feet.

Heretofore, bootjacks of various types have been known which are used for removing boots. Generally they had the form of a forked stick or frame on which one placed his foot while wearing the boot to engage the bootjack. Such a bootjack is not adapted for removing lowcut shoes. The conventional bootjack operates by engaging the back of the boot just above the counter. A lowcut shoe does not extend above the counter so that it cannot be removed by any conventional bootjack.

The devices embodying the present invention have as their principal object to facilitate removing lowcut men's and ladies shoes. They can, however, be used for removing shoes with high tops. Each device operates by engaging the heels of the shoes while a person wearing the shoes is standing or in a sitting position. With the shoes so engaged, a person just steps out of the shoes one at a time, if he is standing or he draws his feet out of the engaged shoes if he is in a sitting position. The device is an appliance which will be found handy for general use, however, it has particular utility for persons who have difficulty in bending, handicapped persons with disabilities of arms and back, arthritics, and others.

The invention will be explained in further detail in connection with the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe removing device embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view ofthe device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views taken on lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another shoe removing device embodying the invention.

FIG. 6 and 7 and 8 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views taken on lines 6-6, 77 and 88 respectively of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 8 showing how the shoe stripper or remover operates.

Referring first to FIG. l-4, there is shown a shoe removal device 10 embodying the invention. The device includes a rectangular baseboard or baseplate 12. On top of the plate are two posts l4, 16 disposed in a central vertical plane perpendicular to the baseboard. Front post 14 is longer than rear post 16. On top of the post is a footboard 18 disposed in an inclined position. The footboard has a notch 20 at its forward end to engage a shoe horn. The footboard has a recessed heel-rest 23. Under the rear end of the footboard on baseboard 12 are two rectangular blocks 22. The blocks are located midway between opposite ends of the baseboard at opposite lateral edges. Each block has an arcuate cutout or recess 26 open at the front end of the block. Each block includes two U-shaped plates. Bottom plate is a spacer plate and top plate 27 is a cover plate. Secured between the plates 25, 27 by cement 29 and/or by nails 31 is flange 28 of a T-shaped rubber strip 30. The head 32 of the strip is spaced from the curved inner surface of the cutout 26 so that the head 32 is supported by a flexible portion of flange 28 in cutout 26. The strip assumes a U- shaped in plan view as viewed in FIG. 2. The rubber strip serves as a frictional gripping member to engage the heel 35 of a shoe 36 when inserted into the block as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The resilient portion of flange 28 adjacent the U-shape strip, together with the recess 26, permits a shoe heel to be more easily wedged and held. The wearer ofa pair of shoes 36 steps on the baseboard and inserts both heels into blocks 22 where they are engaged by strips 30. Then the wearer steps to facilitate removing shoes out of one shoe at a time while blocks by strips 30.

Footboard 18 serves as a carrying handle for the device. It also serves as a footrest when a person shines his shoes or laces them.

FIGS. 5-9 show another shoe stripper 10A which is generally similar to device 10 and corresponding parts are identically numbered. In shoe removing device 10A, a pair of rubber blocks 50 are mounted on baseboard 12a midway between opposite ends. Each block has dovetailed bottom end portion 52 which is engaged in a similarly shaped hole 54 in the baseboard. In lateral slots 56 formed in each block is a pair of flat arms 58,60 formed with curved cutouts or recesses 62 to define a U-shaped recess 26a as clearly shown in FIG. 5. The intermediate portion 66 of block 50 spaces the arms from the top of the baseboard. Metal plates 68 are mounted over the block and screws 70 engage the arms through holes in plates 68 and the top portion 72, of the block; see FIG. 6.

The rear end portions of the arms are formed with bevels 74 which abut the top of a mushroom shaped, triangular abutment block 75. This abutment block has a bottom flange 73 engaged in hole 78 in the baseboard. Screws 80 may also be used to hold the two abutment blocks 75 in the baseboard. It will be noted that the rear beveled end portion of each arm is juxtaposed to a slanted side 77 of the abutment block.

In operation of the device 10A, the pairs of arms serve as heel grippers for shoes 36. The wearer of the shoes steps on the baseboard and inserts his heels 37 into recesses 26a. Then as the shoe is pulled upwardly as shown in FIG. 9, block 50 flexes and the front ends of the arms pivot laterally inwardly toward each other as indicated by arrows in FIG. 5 to grip the heel securely. At the same time, the rear ends of the arms slide downwardly and laterally apart due to the triangular structure of abutment 75. Thus the wearer can easily step out of each shoe.

Both devices 10 and 10A can be made of rigid wood, metal or plastic parts. The flexible strips and mounting blocks can be made of natural or artificial rubber or other elastic plastic material.

The devices described will be found to fulfill a long felt need for a removal appliance useful in homes, hotels, hospitals and wherever shoes must be removed quickly, easily and safely with minimum effort. The devices can be manufactured at relatively low cost and will provide long, trouble-free service. They are durable in construction and require no particular skill or training to use.

lclaim:

l. A device for removing a persons shoes comprising a horizontal board, heel-gripping means having a pair of U- shaped recesses facing forwardly and arranged in laterally spaced position on the baseboard for retaining the shoes while the person draws his foot out of the shoes, said heel-gripping means comprising a pair of rigid block assemblies, flexible friction strips secured to the blocks in the recesses, each strip having a U-shaped configuration in plan view to engage the the shoes are retained in the heel of a shoe inserted therein, each block assembly comprising a U-shaped spacer plate secured to the base board and a U-shaped cover plate secured to the spacer plate, each of said flexible strips being T-shaped in radial section with a horizontal flange engaged between the spacer and cover plates and a head supported by said flange in the recess, and a flexible portion of said flange of each strip extending inwardly of the recess so that the head is spaced from the inner wall of the block assembly inside the recess and is yieldably supported by said flexible portion of the flange.

* I! 1B i 

1. A device for removing a person''s shoes comprising a horizontal board, heel-gripping means having a pair of U-shaped recesses facing forwardly and arranged in laterally spaced position on the baseboard for retaining the shoes while the person draws his foot out of the shoes, said heel-gripping means comprising a pair of rigid block assemblies, flexible friction strips secured to the blocks in the recesses, each strip having a U-shaped configuration in plan view to engage the heel of a shoe inserted therein, each block assembly comprising a U-shaped spacer plate secured to the base board and a U-shaped cover plate secured to the spacer plate, each of said flexible strips being T-shaped in radial section with a horizontal flange engaged between the spacer anD cover plates and a head supported by said flange in the recess, and a flexible portion of said flange of each strip extending inwardly of the recess so that the head is spaced from the inner wall of the block assembly inside the recess and is yieldably supported by said flexible portion of the flange. 